🏆 International Teacher Show Awards 2025

In this special awards episode, Jacob and Aimée are joined by
Ashley Bryant and Wolfgang Soeldner to celebrate the tools, trends, and teachers that defined international education in 2025 — the good, the bad, and the jargon. From favorite tech to the flops we’d rather forget, it’s a lighthearted look back at the year in schools.

(All nominees are listed in no particular order.)

💻 EdTech Platform of the Year
Canva, ChatGPT, Itslearning, Looker Studio

🌀 Worst Jargon of the Year
Androgogy, heutagogy, engagement (as complying), burnout, AI is cheating, Transdisciplinary, Solutionizing, Empowered Agency from Vertical Alignment

🤖 AI Person of the Year
Michelle Kassorla

Ethan Mollick

Mike Kentz

Mark Anderson

Al Kingsley

Med Kharbach

Ryan Tannenbaum
John Nash

🖥️ Hardware of the Year
MacBook with an M chip, Remarkable, Ipevo document camera, Chromebook

📚 Best Professional Development of the Year
Quizziz Tech Coach and Media Specialist Ed Camp

Technology Readiness Council European Summit

Apple Distinguished Schools

YES Bootcamp with Nat Vardabasso & Tom Schimmer

🧨 Worst Initiative of the Year

Live Data, AI bans, misunderstood direct instruction, A not well-planned initiative

🎧 Education Podcast of the Year
Cult of Pedagogy

Education Leaders

Ed-Technical

International Schools Podcast

🏆 International School MVP

Technology Readiness Council Community

Jacob Rosch & Aimée Skidmore

Thomas Arnett

Paul Magnuson

Hosts this week: ⁠ ⁠⁠Emily Murphy⁠, ⁠Aimée Skidmore⁠ and ⁠Jacob Rosch⁠

All teachers struggle with classroom management. In this episode, we do our best to support and offer suggestions to three desperate teachers.

If you have a question or issue you would like to discuss, please write to us here.

⁠⁠⁠⁠International Teacher Staffroom mailbox⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What to check out:

Aimée: What Great Teachers Do Differently by Todd Whitaker and me [email protected]⁠⁠⁠

Emily: Miles Madison: effectiveclassrooms.org

Jacob: Emily's podcast: Learning Explorations

Hosts this week: ⁠ ⁠Julia Knight, Aimée Skidmore and Jacob Rosch

Three writers wonder if they should start their own thing - become a consultant, create an AI edtech tool or start their own school. Julia, who loves a side hustle, shared her wealth of experience in edupreneurship.

If you have a question or issue you would like to discuss, please write to us here.

⁠⁠⁠International Teacher Staffroom mailbox⁠⁠⁠⁠

What to check out:

Julia: ⁠https://www.whentheadultschange.com/

Aimée: for the writers of these letters specifically I would check out ⁠Natalie Vardabasso⁠ and ⁠Tom Schimmer⁠ on LinkedIn.

Jacob: Get on Linkedin! ⁠⁠

Hosts this week: ⁠ ⁠Christopher Clyde Green, Aimée Skidmore and Jacob Rosch

Episode: Three teachers are facing problems with AI and are seeking advice. Christopher helped us advise teachers on chatbots, using AI as a classroom resource, and helping students develop writing skills in the age of AI.

Mailbox: If you have a question or issue you would like to discuss, please write to us here: International Teacher Staffroom mailbox⁠⁠⁠

What to check out:

Christopher: Synthesis maths tutor, Google Lens, AI in Education Podcast

Aimée: Mike Kentz, Michelle Kassorla, Ph.D.

Jacob: ISTE AI

Hosts this week: ⁠ Shane Leaning, Aimée Skidmore and Jacob Rosch

Three writers have questions about whether they should stay or go. Shane Leaning helped us offer some advice on how these listeners could move schools and, more importantly, whether they should.

If you have a question or issue you would like to discuss, please write to us here.

⁠⁠International Teacher Staffroom mailbox⁠⁠⁠

What to check out:

Shane: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/

Jacob: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.shaneleaning.com/podcast⁠

Aimée: Find a career coach or instructional coach if you're stuck!

Hosts this week: Nancy Lhoest-Squicciarini, Aimée Skidmore and Jacob Rosch

Three writers have questions about leadership! Thank goodness we had Nancy Lhoest-Squicciarini, an experienced practitioner and trainer, to help us navigate these tricky leadership situations.

If you have a question or issue you would like to discuss please write to us here.

⁠International Teacher Staffroom mailbox⁠⁠

What to check out:

Aimée:

Global Ed Leaders Podcast⁠

WomenED

Nancy: ⁠⁠⁠

Unhinged Collaboration Podcast

The International Schools Podcast

Jacob: ⁠ECIS website

Hosts this week: John Mikton, Aimée Skidmore and Jacob Rosch

In this episode, we answer three listener letters about teacher recognition—how to feel valued, foster acknowledgement, and build a culture of appreciation. Plus, we recommend quick, impactful educational research for busy teachers.

If you're experiencing a challenging situation at your international school and need advice, please write to the show here.

International Teacher Staffroom mailbox⁠

What to check out:

Aimée: Leon Furze AI Assessment Scale

John: https://elicit.com/

Jacob: https://www.christenseninstitute.org/theory/jobs-to-be-done/

In our first episode, we do our best to give advice to teachers facing challenges after moving to a new international school.

If you're experiencing a challenging situation at your international school and need advice, please write to the show here.

⁠International Teacher Staffroom mailbox⁠

Hosts this week: Aimée Skidmore, Mike Van Leeuwen and Jacob Rosch